The ANC has condemned the decision by the NP provincial government to offer a reward of R1000, free leave for overtime as well as travelling costs to provincial civil servants to work over the next registration weekend. Commenting on the decision, ANC Deputy Elections co-ordinator Maruis Fransman said:
'This decision makes a mockery of the NP's claim that the province does not have money. This offer could amount to well over R6 million from provincial taxpayers money. This equals 360 housing subsidies.
'We are convinced that this amounts to unauthorised expenditure and we will be writing to the Auditor General on Monday to raise our concerns. We have also agreed to ask for the intervention of Minister Trevor Manuel as this decision is in total defiance of the call for volunteers by Deputy President Mbeki.
"Unless this is stopped immediately we predict chaos in the final registration weekend.
"Volunteers from the community, local government and other national departments will not get paid and will now no doubt demand to be paid. This is a recipe for disaster.
'The withdrawal of the SANDF is no excuse. This was known over 6 weeks ago. What was required was a genuine mobilisation attempt by the provincial government with the help of the unions. This never happened. Now they have resorted to using much needed provincial funds to pay for a job which everywhere else is being done to volunteers.
"To make matters worse this decision was never referred to the provincial standing committee on finance or the legislature itself".
Issued by ANC Western Cape
Further comment call Cameron Dugmore on 082 894 7553.